Telangana High Court Rejects TET Candidates’ Petition, Says Basic Knowledge in Subjects for Classes I to VIII is Not Discriminatory.
The Telangana High Court rejected a Writ Petition that questioned the validity of a guideline for the Teacher Eligibility Test. The court stated that the need for basic knowledge in subjects taught to students from classes I to VIII is not arbitrary or discriminatory. The petitioners challenged clause (iv)(c) of Paper II from Guideline No.7, claiming it was unfair. The Division Bench, led by Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Sreenivas Rao, noted that it is the authority’s role to set the exam syllabus, and the court will only intervene if the syllabus is found to be arbitrary.
Advocate Siripuram Keshava represented the petitioners, while Government Pleader T. Venkat Raju represented the School Education Department. The petition arose because the petitioners hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Telugu and a Bachelor of Education in Telugu Literature. Teacher recruitment in Telangana follows the Telangana Direct Recruitment for Teachers (Scheme of Selection) Rules, 2023. To become a teacher, candidates must pass the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) established the guidelines for this test. According to these guidelines, candidates for teaching classes I to V must pass Paper I, while those for classes VI to VIII must pass Paper II. The issue in this writ petition was related to Paper II.
The petitioners, who are language experts, argued that they were only allowed to take exams in Mathematics and Science or in Social Studies. They claimed this rule was unfair and treated different groups as if they were the same. The Bench stated that the NCTE created guidelines for the Teacher Eligibility Test to ensure that qualified individuals are chosen as teachers, possessing the necessary skills to handle teaching challenges at both primary and upper primary levels. The subjects involved include Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I (Telugu), Language II (English), Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, which are taught to students in primary and secondary schools. The Bench emphasized that anyone applying for a teaching position must have fundamental knowledge in these subjects.
The Bench concluded that requiring basic knowledge in subjects taught to students from grades I to VIII is neither arbitrary nor discriminatory, and they dismissed the Writ Petition.
Cause Title: Arakula Yadaiahvs v. Ministry of Education [Case No. Writ Petition No.33576 of 2024] Appearance:
Petitioners: Advocate Siripuram Keshava
Respondents: Government Pleader T.Venkat Raju, Advocate N.Ananeesh
